Zombie sighting:I saw them hover gracefully. And right then, I knew they were not mindless zombies.
-chapter 16, location 1976

A dire prophecy has emerged, and the mer believe that humans and merfolk are in grave danger. Terror is closing in, but only one person holds the key to stopping it: Florence Waverley. However, her mission to save two worlds will lead her far, far out into the Darkness--a shadow-realm full of monsters, magic, and wicked tides that could tear apart bodies.

With the help of her friends, Florry must uncover a secret about humans and mer. A long-lost secret that could change her life. And above all else, she must fight hard to light the darkness. Everything depends on her mission: her friends, her world, and the one she loves.

The past, present, and future are about to collide--but can she stay afloat? One way or another, nothing will be the same when she enters the Darkness...

PeekAbook:

My two-bits:

An under-the-sea story continues told with a light tone.

The main character, Florry, who is human continues to learn about the underwater world history and inhabitants which includes a dark side of things appropriately named the Darkness.

Florry also experiences a coming of age moment where she confronts her parents and her place in both worlds.

[The band has arrived at their hotel, a special arrangement due to over-eager paparazzi.]

My gaze fell on the figure that exited through the wooden doors a few yards away. Her blond hair swung from side to side, mimicking the sway of her hips. A smile played across her lips, crinkling the corners of her piercing blue eyes. My heart nearly stopped.

“Dude, close your mouth.” Sean knocked shoulders with me when he stepped to my side.

Giving him a sidelong glance, I saw Logan smiling appreciatively at the girl, looking her up and down. No way. Stepping away from them, I nearly knocked her over in my attempt to reach her before she got caught in Logan’s crosshairs.

Startled, she looked up at me, tucking a wisp of hair behind her ear. Fuck me, the girl was hot. Taking off my sunglasses, I gave her the most seductive grin I could muster.

The Cast of Gone for You

Cam

Lily

Logan

The Playlist

Tunes make writing a lot easier! Well, sometimes. Here's a few that inspired me while I wrote Gone for You! --Jayne Frost

As the guitarist for the rock band Caged, I know the rules: no relationships. No complications. Leave ‘em willing when you go, but always go. Besides, it’s not like I’m ever in one place for more than a few days at a time. As the next hottest thing out of Austin, the band and me are riding the wave, and the music is all that matters.

Until her…

Lily Tennison has “complication” written across her beautiful face. But I can’t get involved. The timing’s all wrong. But she’s under my skin, and I can’t resist her troubled eyes and sweet smile. And I do have a little time to kill. Not much, just a few days in Dallas.

So I’ll scratch the itch and move on, like I always do.

Simple, right?

About the author:

So…who is Jayne?

As a writer, you would think that would be a simple question…but it’s not. I spend so much time living in my characters heads, listening to their voices, that sometimes I forget about my own.

I guess I should start with the basics: the backstory. I was born and raised in California. At this point, I’m usually asked what it was like to grow up near the beach, but sadly, I don’t know. I grew up in the “other” part of California. Perfect for an aspiring writer, if you ask me. You learn a lot about keeping yourself busy when the nearest house is a mile away…and it belongs to your grandparents.

I spent all my time with my nose in a book, living vicariously through the characters, until I wrote a book of my own. I was ten at the time. It was a scintillating piece that cast the family pet as the protagonist.By the time I went to high school, I moved on to romance. Why? Because I met my very own prince charming. I wrote love poems in my journal about the green-eyed boy who stole my heart. He promised, the way all storybook heroes do, to sweep me away and take me on a grand adventure. And he did.We picked up and moved to the Lone Star State and began the story of us. The best stories begin without a road map or a compass. Veering off course makes the journey so much more interesting.

True to form, just when I thought my life was set, we started the next adventure. I traded in my cowboy boots and followed my green-eyed boy to Las Vegas. My home will always be in Texas, but my heart is anywhere that he is. Our beautiful daughter made the journey with us. Our son stayed in Texas, to write his own story.

Somehow, in the midst of the chaos that is our life, I find time to write. Writing is what I love. I might stray from romance every now and then if that is what moves me…but I always come back. Some of the stories don’t seem romantic at all. They are gritty stories about flawed characters that find each other and hold on tight. Those are the stories that speak to me. Because that’s life. I believe that every story should have a happy ending—even the difficult ones.

Lewis Carroll's most famous novels, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, are brought to sparkling new life in this unabridged recording by AudioFile Earphones Award-winning narrator Alison Larkin. An internationally acclaimed comedienne well known for her many voices, Alison Larkin is the perfect vessel to bring Lewis Carroll's classic novels to a new audience. This fresh and hugely entertaining listen from "the English American" joined with Lewis Carroll's surreal genius results in pure, boundless FUN.

The novels are followed by a short excerpt from the Life and Letters of Lewis Carroll, by Carroll's nephew Stuart Dodgson Collingwood.

My two-bits:

As I already love the story, it was a given that this would be an enjoyable experience to listen to.

Cute narrated version. I say cute because the narrator has one of those higher pitched voices as she tells the tale.

It is a good version for a younger crowd to listen to and certainly captures the whimsical nature of the story.

About the author:

Alison was born in Washington DC, adopted by British parents and raised in England and Africa.

She is the bestselling author of The English American, comedienne and award-winning narrator of over 100 audiobooks including Pride and Prejudice & Alice in Wonderland.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

~*~

For Review:

Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
by Lewis Carroll
narrated by Alison Larkin
-Audiobook, Children's classic
courtesy of author and Kate Tilton's Book Bloggers!
Thanks !Amazon | Audible.com

Library:

The Devil in the White City:
Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
by Erik Larson
-Crime, Non-fictionAmazon | Goodreads

Author Erik Larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the book's categorization to be sure that 'The Devil in the White City' is not, in fact, a highly imaginative novel. Larson tells the stories of two men: Daniel H. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fair's construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor.

Burnham's challenge was immense. In a short period of time, he was forced to overcome the death of his partner and numerous other obstacles to construct the famous "White City" around which the fair was built. His efforts to complete the project, and the fair's incredible success, are skillfully related along with entertaining appearances by such notables as Buffalo Bill Cody, Susan B. Anthony, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison.

The activities of the sinister Dr. Holmes, who is believed to be responsible for scores of murders around the time of the fair, are equally remarkable. He devised and erected the World's Fair Hotel, complete with crematorium and gas chamber, near the fairgrounds and used the event as well as his own charismatic personality to lure victims.

In World's Fair Gardens, Cathy Jean Maloney offers a lavishly illustrated exploration of the gardens and grounds of America's nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century world's fairs. Maloney describes the landscapes of nine of America's great fairs from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia to the 1940 World's Fair of Tomorrow in New York, many of whose legacies are still evident.

Hailed as “One of the best technical painters of our time” by an L.A. Times critic, 27 year-old, Aubrey Johnson's work is finally gaining traction. But as she weaves through what should be a celebration of her art, a single nagging echo of her doctor’s words refuses to stay silent—there is no cure. In less than eight weeks Aubrey is going blind.

Traveling on a one-way ticket around the world with childhood friend Jeff Anderson, Aubrey is in complete denial. But a blindfolded game of tasting foreign foods in China jolts her into confronting the reality of her situation. So begins her quest.

In this adult coming of age story, Aubrey struggles to make sense of her crippling diagnosis. But on her journey she finds a deeper understanding of herself and her life—sometimes fragmented and complex, but always with relentless truth.

My two-bits:

This tale is a combination of travel, art, coming of age and transformation - with also a touch of romance.

Most of the book is a journey to different parts of the world which includes some wonders of the world. The descriptions of some of the places visited got me adding them to my destination to travel wish list.

Because the main character is an artist, the perspective of things had a creative and colorful quality.

Although the main topic of going blind is a bit heartbreaking, it is handled well with a positive attitude.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Gone For You
(Sixth Street Band Series Book 1)
by Jayne Frost
-Contemporary Romance
Release date: April 28, 2015Amazon | Goodreads

As the guitarist for the rock band Caged, I know the rules: no relationships. No complications. Leave ‘em smiling when you go, but always go. Besides, it’s not like I’m ever in one place for more than a few days at a time. As the next hottest thing out of Austin, the band and I are riding the wave, and the music is all that matters.

Until her…

Lily Tennison has “complication” written across her beautiful face. But I can’t get involved. The timing’s all wrong. But she’s under my skin, and I can’t resist her troubled eyes and sweet smile. And I do have a little time to kill. Not much, just a few days in Dallas.

So I’ll scratch the itch and move on, like I always do.

Simple, right?

Note: You won't need to turn up the heat—Sixth Street Bands Romances have plenty of steamy fun. This story can be read as a stand-alone but is part of the Sixth Street Bands music scene.

Weeia series:
The Dreamshifter
The Mindshifter
The Spiritshifter
The Timeshifter
Paradox

Ready for a new kind of urban fantasy? In Unelmoija: The Dreamshifter a pretty yet ordinary young woman's life is transformed beyond her imaginings when a traumatic incident changes her forever.

An unexpected encounter with the father she never knew and a mysterious man that repels and attracts her at the same time leads her to discover she's not who she thinks she is. Amy, unassuming, intelligent, with newly acquired superhuman skills, lives in a historic Miami waterfront estate. She’s about to discover that a safe location, youth and special abilities may not be enough to protect her from whoever wants her dead.

Zombie sighting:"That explains why you looked like something from a zombie flick when you showed up in the kitchen. I take it that's what you mean by yesterday?"
-chapter 18

My two-bits:

This first book to a series (5 books so far) introduces a race of super humans living in the modern day. The sights, sounds and eats of Miami, Florida provide the backdrop for this story.

There is a dash of action and danger. But mostly, the main character, Amy, learns about her special skill and how to use/control it throughout the story.

Also, Amy gains insight on her parents and their history.

I found Amy to be a foodie. There were several scenes where the appreciation of food (or lack thereof) was the focus.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Powell's subscription club delivers the best new books, with special attention to independent publishers. Signed first editions. Inventive, original sets. Exclusive printings.... Every six weeks, another installment to read and admire.

Plus, every package is stocked with exciting surprises!

This is package #52. (sorry - this is sold out, but you can signup for the next one)

Peggy Hillcoat is eight years old when her survivalist father, James, takes her from their home in London to a remote hut in the woods and tells her that the rest of the world has been destroyed. Deep in the wilderness, Peggy and James make a life for themselves. They repair the hut, bathe in water from the river, hunt and gather food in the summers and almost starve in the harsh winters. They mark their days only by the sun and the seasons.

When Peggy finds a pair of boots in the forest and begins a search for their owner, she unwittingly unravels the series of events that brought her to the woods and, in doing so, discovers the strength she needs to go back to the home and mother she thought she’d lost.

After Peggy's return to civilization, her mother begins to learn the truth of her escape, of what happened to James on the last night out in the woods, and of the secret that Peggy has carried with her ever since.

From the author of The Wilds, which Publishers Weekly called “a brilliant combination of emotion and grime, wit and horror,” comes a debut novel that is part dystopian satire, part Southern Gothic tall tale: a disturbing yet hilarious romp through a surreal New South where newfangled medical technologies change the structure of the human brain and genetically modified feral animals ravage the blighted landscape.

Down on his luck and still pining for his ex-wife, South Carolina taxidermist Romie Futch spends his evenings drunkenly surfing the Internet before passing out on his couch. In a last-ditch attempt to pay his mortgage, he replies to an ad and becomes a research subject in an experiment conducted by the Center for Cybernetic Neuroscience in Atlanta, Georgia. After “scientists” download hifalutin humanities disciplines into their brains, Romie and his fellow guinea pigs start debating the works of Foucault and hashing out the intricacies of postmodern subjectivity. The enhanced taxidermist, who once aspired to be an artist, returns to his hometown ready to revolutionize his work and revive his failed marriage. As Romie tracks down specimens for his elaborate animatronic taxidermy dioramas, he develops an Ahab-caliber obsession with bagging “Hogzilla,” a thousand-pound feral hog that has been terrorizing Hampton County. Cruising hog-hunting websites, he learns that this lab-spawned monster possesses peculiar traits. Pulled into an absurd and murky underworld of biotech operatives, FDA agents, and environmental activists, Romie becomes entangled in the enigma of Hogzilla’s origins.

Exploring the interplay between nature and culture, biology and technology, reality and art, The New and Improved Romie Futch probes the mysteries of memory and consciousness, offering a darkly comic yet heartfelt take on the contemporary human predicament.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Thanks a bunch with huggles to Lori of Imagination Designs
for the fabulous blog design she created for vvb32 reads!

~*~

* some of these may be offered as giveaways within the next two months

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

Going to a séance was supposed to be a harmless diversion in Victorian England, but for Delia Spencer, it was life altering. Since that day, she has been plagued by fainting spells, while her consciousness visits Elle Thomas more than a century in the future. In modern-day New York, Elle has kept secret the dream-like memories of Delia’s life. As the visits have become more frequent, Elle is confused about what is her life and what is not. Back in England, Delia’s father is determined to marry her off to any marginally suitable man before her illness becomes known to society. But will Delia consent, now that she’s had a taste of Elle’s independence?

Zombie sighting:"What?" My stomach flutters, and not in a good way — one, because I automatically react with excitement to hearing his voice even when I don't want to, and two, because he's here in my kitchen when I look like a zombie. "Who let you in?"
-chapter 4

My two-bits:

This story switches back and forth between the past plight of a Victorian girl and present day high school teen in regards to love and romance.

Both perspectives of the same person (in past and present) were engaging to read. The oppressiveness of the Victorian era comes out well. While I usually like to read of the fashion and etiquette of the times, it and was portrayed as very un-glamourous.

On the flip-side, the modern day was true and in keeping with today's teens and troubles.

I liked how memories and insight from each character played a part in each other's lives.

An interesting concept to ponder is introduced about a person's soul and what can come about in a paranormal sense.

Newly dead and struggling to cope with her new reality, Emma Elliott is thrust into a dark and desperate vision of London.

In her fight to survive she meets friends, both old and new, and uncovers a world inhabited by two warring clans of angels, one bent on the ultimate destruction of mankind, the other committed to our salvation. A way out presents itself but with the forces arrayed against her Emma starts to wonder why, of all the people who have found themselves in this position; she is being singled out for such special attention.

As time passes more questions arise for Emma. Who is Isabella, the woman she is constantly mistaken for? Who are the mysterious Cado Angelus who cast a shadow over Emma's every move? And what part does Emma have to play in the events that will soon unfold in her world and ours.

My two-bits:

This story felt like a maze. It navigated me through a past, a present and an other world versions of London.

The walkabout town is quite long with the main character learning about her new environment which is kind of limbo in a London past where ladies wore corsets. Flashbacks into the past and present are interspersed. And then a trip to the underworld is revealed as well.

But finally, in the end we get to the heart of the story and the character's heart.

Princess Meredith's eighteenth birthday is fast approaching, but unlike other girls, she is not looking forward to it. Upon her coming of age, she is to marry the prince of Alder, the most powerful kingdom in the world. Though the idea of marriage to a complete stranger is appalling, she knows she has no choice. Without the marriage contract, Stonefall's alliance with Alder will be lost, and her people will be safe no longer; Theros, King of Talos, has set his eyes of conquest on Stonefall and he wants Meredith dead.

Connor, an elite soldier entrusted with Meredith's safety, arrives at the palace just as things begin to take a turn for the worst. Together, they embark on a journey of survival, in which Meredith will find that the only thing she never prepared for was falling in love.

My two-bits:

Great start to the series that has that medieval renaissance vibe!

Like most first books in a series, this one was mostly an introduction to this fantasy world and main characters. I found the main characters to be likable and the kind that make you want to hope the best for them as the story progresses.

The romance starts out sweetly and honestly between Princess Meredith and Connor. So then, the question is how will it last into the next book despite Princess Meredith's established arranged marriage with someone else?

Conflict in the kingdom creates the right amount of tension and danger to this story to force the characters to go beyond their usual stations in life.

I loved reading about the makings of a heroine which is what Princess Meredith is slowly transforming into.

* easter egg giveaways: are surprise giveaways embedded in posts that sometimes have an egg image at the bottom or simply hints at a giveaway for comments participation throughout the event or just because i'm feeling generous - none this time

* to see the original giveaway offer, click on the signup link

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Winners, feel free to contact me with your info if you don't get my email
or if you are just too darn excited and want to let me know -- like NOW ;-D